From July 23rd to 26th, Bel Air High School’s Anime Club attended the 22nd Otakon convention in Baltimore to celebrate the end of the 2014-15 school year.

Otakon is a convention created by Japanese pop culture fans to celebrate their similar interests through activities such as group discussions, presentations, workshops, and competitions. The convention has been held in Baltimore since 1999.

The club raised funds for the event by selling candy bags at lunch last December, as well as a Jakes Wayback Burger fundraiser in May, earning $498 for tickets.

Mike Nelson, head of the Bel Air High School Anime club, stated, “Otakon is just a wonderland for anyone that likes anime and manga. It’s like going to Disney for the first time. You can go to a new place and meet tons of new people that share your common interests.”

Some of the guests who were featured at the event included TrailerDrake, Kieran Strange, and BACK-ON. Presentations shown to attendees included When Subtitles Go Wrong, Politics in Video Games, and Avatar: The Legend of Korra &The Dichotomy of Evil.

Alexi Misciagna, a current member of the anime club, said “I really enjoyed panels such as ‘Avatar: The Legend of Korra &The Dichotomy of Evil’ and ‘Putting the Nerve in NerveGear; The Neuroscience Behind Sword Art Online’ because they featured popular media and education, themes we see in real life. ‘Korra Dichotomy’ taught different idealisms while the ‘SAO’ presentation taught its viewers about the neuroscience behind the show and how it’s applied to the world of gaming.

The Anime club helps promote self-expression within the school by allowing students to share their love of manga and anime in a group environment. They wish to grow as a club, and are always encouraging new members.